C O N T E N T S · 2018. 4. 2. · Summer 2010 AZ Water Association 1 C O N T E N T S features 4 Tres Rios Flow Regulating and Overbank Wetlands 10 Achieving Steady State Flow –

Summer 2010 AZ Water Association 1

C O N T E N T S

features 4 Tres Rios Flow Regulating and Overbank Wetlands 10 Achieving Steady State Flow –

Avondale Wastewater Equalization Facilities 20 Lake Havasu City Wastewater Sewer Expansion

Program Pairs with PBS&J for a Strong Finish 32 AZ Water 2010 Wastewater Project of the Year:

Chandler Airport Water Reclamation Facility Expansion to 15MGD: Transforming Community Needs to Community Resources

36 AZ Water 2010 Water Reuse Project of the Year: Surprise Vadose Zone Well Recharge System

44 AZ Water 2010 Water Project of the Year: City of Yuma’s Agua Viva Water Treatment Facility

48 The Environment as a Paying Water Customer: Connecting Water Conservation to Environmental Water Needs

63-73 AZ Water 83rd Annual Conference Highlights

62 AZ Water 84th Annual Conference Call For Abstracts 22 Best Shot Photo Contest 25 Biosolids’ Webcasts 18 Collection Systems Workshop 14 Distribution Committee Presents

Water/Wastewater Workshops 42 Free Environmental Analytical Services Workshops 46 Free Wastewater Operator Training

Sponsored by AZ Water, ADHS, ADEQ

30 Monthly Technical Luncheon Door Prize Sponsorship

60 Scholarship Endowment 50-57 Tri-State Seminar 58 Water For People So. Arizona Golf Classic 38 WEFTEC – The Water Quality Event

announcements

2 Advertisers 29 Association News 8 AWWA Director’s Report 2 Board of Directors 15 Committee News 34 Historian Report 74 Membership Application 7 Past President’s Report 26 Pipeline - Operator Certification Challenge 6 President’s Report 75-76 Professional Services 40 Success and Fun 41 Trivia 9 WEF Delegate’s Report

departments

AZ Water Association Summer 20102

board of directors 2 0 1 0 - 2 0 1 1

John WarnerPresident520-326-4333 • fax [email protected]

Kevin ConwayPresident-Elect602-275-5595 • fax [email protected]

Chris HillVice President520-575-8100 • fax [email protected]

Don ManthePast President602-522-7794 • fax [email protected]

Brandy KelsoTreasurer602-495-7676 • fax 602-495-5843brandy [email protected]

Patty KennedySecretary602-534-2085 • fax [email protected]

Frank TantoneAWWA Director602-275-5595 • fax [email protected]

Paul KinshellaWEF [email protected]

Jack BryckDirector602-797-4609 • fax [email protected]

John [email protected]

Rick [email protected]

Chuck GrafDirector602-771-4661 • fax [email protected]

Dan LuederDirector928-634-0186 • fax [email protected]

Floyd MarshDirector602-954-4300 • fax [email protected]

Teresa Smith-DeHesusDirector602-381-4426 • fax [email protected]

Jason VernonDirector602-275-4303 • fax [email protected]

advertisers ~ summer 2 0 1 0AZ WAter

2010KAchinA neWs

Article And Advertisement deAdlines

Issue DeaDlIneWINTER December 10

SPRING March 10

SUMMER June 10

FALL September 10

ACCEPTABLE FORMATS INCLUDE high-resolu tion PDF files with

fonts embedded, Adobe Illus trator 9.0 .eps files,

.tif files, .jpg files, or Microsoft Word files. Include any

high-resolution (300-dpi) photos or art work used with Microsoft files separately as

either .tif or .jpg. Mail or e-mail all articles

or advertisements to:

AZ WAter AssociAtion1042 Willow Creek Road

A101-510Prescott, AZ 86301

[email protected]

Publication of any article/comment herein does not constitute an endorsement by the AZ Water Association

or staff.

(c) 2010 by the AZ Water Association

Aqua Aerobics System IFC, OBCASA Analytics 19Black & Veach 75

Brown and Caldwell 13Carollo Engineers 6

CDM 75CH2M HILL 28

Coombs/Hopkins 75Core-Rosion Products 16

Dibble Engineering 75DSWA 19

DYK 41ECO2 3EEC 75

EMA, Inc. 75ETC Compliance Solutions 75

FANN Environmental 34Gannett Fleming 6

GHD 13Golder & Associates 28

Greeley & Hansen 8HDR 19

Hennesy Mechanical Sales 75IES Southwest Inc. IFC

J & S Valve 39Kennedy/Jenks Consultants 76

Legend Technical Services 43Lockwood, Andres & Newnam, Inc. 76

M. E. Simpson Company 31Malcolm Pirnie 16

McCarthy 28MISCO 13, 19, 59, 76, IBC

Montgomery & Associates 43Orica Watercare 59

Separation Process Inc. 75Severn Trent Services 7

Specialized Piping Systems 76Stanley Consultants 19

Statewide Disinfection Services 76Technical Content Resource Group 76

Trojan Technologies 24USA Bluebook 7

Utility Service Company 1Weston Solutions 13Wilson Engineers 76


cale

ndar

E

VE

NT

S

J U L Y15 AZ Water – Biosolids Webcast

Solar Power Plant for Wastewater Reclamationin Arizona, Part I

See flyer on page 25 Register at www.azwater.org

30 Collection Systems Workshop Lake Havasu, AZSee flyer on page 18

Register at www.azwater.org

A U G U S T 18 AZ Water Distribution Committee Presents:

Water & Wastewater WorkshopScottsdale, AZSee flyer on page 14


25 AZ Water Biosolids WebcastDemystifying Polymers for Operators, Designers & Engineers

See flyer on page 25 Register at www.azwater.org

28 Water For People Southern Arizona Golf Classic

Tucson, AZSee flyer on page 58


31 FREE – Wastewater Operator TrainingSponsored by AZ Water, ADHS, ADEQ

Munds Park, AZ See flyer on page 46

S E P T E M B E R1 FREE – Wastewater Operator Training

Sponsored by AZ Water, ADHS, ADEQPhoenix, AZ See flyer on page 46

2 FREE – Wastewater Operator TrainingSponsored by AZ Water, ADHS, ADEQ

Tucson, AZ See flyer on page 46

15 AZ Water Distribution Committee Presents:Water & Wastewater Workshop

Flagstaff, AZSee flyer on page 14


28-30 Tri-State Seminar Primm, NVSee pages 50-57

www.tristateseminar.com

O C T O B E R 2-6 WEFTEC 2010 New Orleans, LA www.weftec.org

20 AZ Water Distribution Committee Presents:Water & Wastewater Workshop

Tucson, AZSee flyer on page 14


N O V E M B E R 6 Water For People Hike-A-Thon Phoenix, AZ More Information to come.

20 Water For People El Tour de Tucson Tucson, AZ More Information to come.


PROJECT OVERVIEWIn 1997, the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) investigated the potential of the Tres Rios

area in Maricopa County, Arizona to improve fish and wildlife habitat, and to provide flood damage reduction, recreation opportunities, and the incidental benefits of water quality and supply. The Tres Rios area was specifically examined for opportunities to restore critical riparian and wetland habitats that may have been lost in the region due to water resources development in the Phoenix metropolitan area.

Funding from the House and Senate Committee’s Energy and Water Development Appropriations Acts was used to build Phase II of Tres Rios. Supplemental federal funding was provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. In addition, non-federal monies from the City of Phoenix and the multi-city Sub-regional Operating Group (SROG) were used for construction.

Phase II of the Tres Rios project included the Flow Regulating and Overbank Wetlands located in the northwest quadrant of 91st Avenue and the Salt River in the City of Tolleson. The Flow Regulating Wetlands (FRW) encompasses approximately 250 acres between 91st and 97th Avenues, while the Overbank Wetlands (OBW) cover approximately 130 acres from 97th Ave to 111th Ave. Both wetland facilities are operated and maintained by the City of Phoenix. The water supply for the project comes from reclaimed water generated at the 91st Avenue Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), a facility operated by the City of Phoenix on behalf of SROG. Discharges from the WWTP are routed to three end users – the Salt River, Tres Rios, and Palo Verde Nuclear Generating

Station. After contractual obligations to provide effluent as cooling water to Palo Verde are met, the wetland facilities are expected to receive 15–120 million gallons per day. As such, the Tres Rios wetlands were designed to accommodate a large range of flows while still achieving project goals.

CONSTRUCTION AND PERMITTINGArcher Western Contractors were retained by the USACE to lead the construction of Phase II,

which began in September 2008. Non-reclaimed water was used for the majority of construction and initial wetland planting as WWTP discharge was not yet permitted for use on the site. An Aquifer Protection Permit (APP) was obtained in October 2009 allowing reclaimed water to be applied and contained within the FRW. The APP allowed aquatic vegetation to be planted without the continued use of a supplemental water supply. The FRW facility was completed in May 2010 and subsequent monitoring will begin in July.

feature

Tres Rios Flow Regulating and Overbank Wetlands

Brendan FOX, EIT & Roland WASS, PhD PEWass Gerke & Associates, Inc.

Aerial image of the Tres Rios Wetlands, April 2010. Photo courtesy of Archer Western Contractors.


The project’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit has been approved for a start date of July 1, 2010. The OBW is nearing completion, with vegetation scheduled for planting in July when the NPDES permit will allow discharges from the upstream FRW facility. The inability to discharge prior to this date presented a great challenge during construction. Careful balance and control was required to maintain water levels that would handle incoming flows without discharging, manage the flow between multiple basins, account for infiltration and evaporation, and still facilitate the construction process, including the installation of aquatic plants in the wetland cells.

FLOW REGULATING WETLANDSThe wetland complex at Tres Rios is termed “Flow Regulating Wetlands” for its role in allowing the

fluctuation in effluent flows to take place within and delivering a more constant flow into the Salt River and to the Overbank Wetlands. The FRW facilities include an inlet structure, two deep open water basins, three free-water surface wetland cells, and an effluent channel. Treated effluent from the WWTP enters the site in the northeast corner via three 84-inch diameter force mains and delivers water to the inlet structure of the deep-water basins, designated DWA and DWB. Under normal operating conditions, flow is split between DWA and DWB. Gated box culverts serve as outlets from the deep water basins to three free-water surface wetland cells named FRW1, FRW2, and FRW3. These two-phase free-water cells consist of a mix of open water deep zones, shallow emergent marsh areas, and islands. Treated water discharged from FRW1-3 is conveyed in a naturally lined effluent channel to the Salt River outfalls and/or the OBW cells.

OVERBANK WETLANDSThe OBW is the second complex consisting of a linear constructed wetlands located along the

north Salt River terrace and floodplain, which will receive seasonally constant flows discharged from the FRW. The OBW inlet structure can divert the flow to two parallel channels, separated by a center berm. The northern wetland and riparian channel is defined by a riparian corridor along the center berm, and alternating deep and emergent zones which run the entire length. The southern channel also includes a riparian corridor along the center berm but is more terrestrial in nature, defined by mesquite bosques throughout.

WETLAND BENEFITSThe wetlands polish the effluent, provide aquatic habitat, and

support adjacent riparian habitat at this arid southwestern site. The goal of improving these habitats is a primary focus because the opportunity exists to provide wetland and riparian habitat connectivity in areas where it is currently extant. The FRW wetlands provide habitat for shorebirds, waterfowl, fish and macroinvertebrates. The primary role of the OBW will be habitat enhancement and conveyance of water to downstream features and water users. Planting of aquatic and terrestrial plants will create riparian habitat attractive to wildlife and suitable for passive recreation, interpretation, and education by the public. Bird species seen on site so far include great blue heron, great egret, black-necked stilt, red-winged blackbird, ruddy duck, and belted kingfisher. As the site matures it is expected to be utilized by more than 148 avian species.

In addition, the FRW cells offer supplementary treatment to the effluent prior to discharging it to the OBW cells or Salt River. It is expected that the wetlands will polish treated effluent, improving the water quality with respect to nitrogen species, total residual chlorine (TRC), and emerging contaminants. During the course of a year there may be times when the processes in the conventional treatment plant or operational needs result in increased ammonia nitrogen levels. The FRW wetlands will assist in its removal at low hydraulic loading rates. At other times, or coincidently, the TRC may be effectively reduced by the wetland cells without the need to dose the effluent with sodium bisulfate.

For more information on the Tres Rios Project contact:Kenneth KroskiCity of Phoenix Public Information Officer(602) 262-6627http://www.phoenix.gov/TRESRIOS

Two black-necked stilts and a young mallard duck at the FRW Site, June 2010. Photo by Patty Casio.


John WARNERPima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department

AZ Water Association

President

president’s reportI TRUST THAT THIS MESSAGE FINDS YOU DOING WELL AND DEEP INTO THE JOYS of summertime since our annual conference.

During my acceptance at the annual conference, my presidency somehow got tagged “the Reign of Terror” … not real sure how this happened.

I trust most of the association members know me for my commitment to the water and wastewater industry. Now that we have evolved to the AZ Water Association, it is comforting to know that I belong to a professional organization that believes in the overall concept that “Water is Water”. Along with that is the old WEF slogan of “Water is Life”. To be a part of this movement is rewarding, knowing that we will carry out to the best of our ability, our charge to be leaders in the industry for stewardship of our water environment.

With a new day, a new challenge emerges. For me it is the challenge of providing meaningful direction for an already successful association and realizing, “how can I bring something new or improved to the overall association?” I spoke of mentoring and that it is often a two-way exchange. So, I challenge you to engage in conversation with a colleague and learn something new. It’s easier than you think; just realize you’re not always right and there are always options to choose from.

This is something I will be working on further for the summer Board Retreat. In addition, I will be working closely with the Leadership Committee to ensure that we keep on the “branded” path we chose. We need to improve our message to the general public and new members, who are we, why we exist, and what can we do for you? We need to tell a story and we need to tell it loud so it can be heard all the way to Washington D.C.

As an association, we must take forward the message of our industry about the competing needs we all face every day: too little time, too many tasks, too little resources, and too little funding. The list goes on and on. In the current economic situation of this Country and our daily responsibilities, we must prioritize our achievements. A friend once told me, “choose your battles wisely and choose the ones you can win.” Keeping that in mind, we often turn down the challenge that we perceive as insurmountable, while staying within our comfort zone. This industry has followed that path way too long. We, as “water professionals”, must break out of our comfort zone through discussions and move into the challenge of delivering, informing and educating our neighbors, affiliate members, national associations, local leaders, and government policy makers. We must be our own advocates!

I nnova t i ve Eng inee r ing So lu t ions

www.gannettfleming.com

More than 60 offices worldwideAlan O’Brien, P.E. Phone (602) 553-8817

Water and Wastewater Treatment Water Distribution and TransmissionPumping Stations and Storage Facilities Water Collection SystemsDams and Reservoirs Flood Control Management Consulting by Avant IMC

City of Phoenix P ipe Burst ing Project

Phoenix, AZ 602 .263.9500Yuma, AZ 928 .782 .0722 carollo.com

complete water servicesfor Arizona's Water Needs.

City of Yuma Aqua Viva Water Treatment Facility2009 ACEC AZ Engineering Excellence Award Recipient


WOW – THE YEAR HAS FLOWN BY! This will be my last article as outgoing President of AZ Water, so I want to use the opportunity to both give thanks and renew a challenge to all of you.

First, the thank you’s. Even in tough economic conditions, this year’s conference in Glendale was a very successful one! Thanks to Vance Lee, Debbie Muse, and the rest of the Conference Committee members that made it the success that it was. Thanks to all of the AZ Water Board members for their vision, contributions, and collaboration throughout the year. The Association’s progress this year would not have been possible without their tireless efforts. I know that AZ Water is in fine hands, as John Warner takes the reins as President. I am committed to continuing my service to AZ Water and help John achieve his goals. Finally, I want to thank all the members of AZ Water. All of you have provided tremendous support this last year, and made me realize what a beautifully unique and passionate Association we have. Thank you for your inspiration!

Now, I want to renew a challenge to each and every one of you. I want AZ Water professionals to continue to be strong leaders for the water future of Arizona. We are water professionals, 24hours/7days/365days of the year. We are committed to the public health and safety of the communities we live in. Who better than AZ Water members to educate the public about the value of water in an arid state. To educate, that water supplies and infrastructure are vital to the health and growth of vibrant communities. AZ Water must continue to reach across communities, agencies, and political party lines for a collective good – safe, sustainable water for all. We must be leaders. Why? As Barry Goldwater said, “Because water is that damn important to Arizona!”

This year’s conference theme was “Stewardship of Arizona’s Water Future”. To this end, AZ Water needs to advocate for a comprehensive Arizona Water Plan. To mitigate future crisis management (such as drought and climate change), Arizona must engage in long-term planning based on good science that should be widely available throughout the state. An Arizona Water Plan would take into consideration regional needs and be implemented by state and local policymakers. Policies within such a plan should encourage water conservation, consider local economic interests and physical constraints within different regions, and facilitate cooperation between various water entities.

Water stewardship and advocacy not only requires public education beyond slogans and sound bites – it requires the building of a sound civic ethic. Most Arizonans pay more for cable TV than water/sewer services to their homes. What is valued more? Policy makers need to develop long-term civic wisdom to make robust water management decisions, while having the sustainable financial means from the public to fund water infrastructure - both on a state and local level.

Water management policy and infrastructure should be among the very highest priorities within the state. However, this is currently not the case. AZ Water needs to help change this lack of vision. Sound water policy sustains Arizona’s economic vitality. Infrastructure investment sustains Arizona’s economic health. Arizona’s future requires renewed political priority and public funding of water solutions.

The members of AZ Water will continue to lead the stewardship of Arizona’s water future. Our communities and citizens need us - we are uniquely qualified. We have done much, but we need to do more. It is our duty – and our commitment. Thank you for allowing me to serve as your President of this great organization.

GO AZ WATER!

Don MANTHEHDR Engineering, Inc.

AZ Water Association

Past President

past president’s report

Let’s Renew Our Commitment!


Mark STRATTONMetropolitan Water District, Tucson

AWWA Director, Arizona Section

director’s reportTHIS REPORT IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT THAT I HAVE HAD TO WRITE. After three short years, my tenure as AZ Water Association’s Director on the AWWA Board has come to a close. After more than a decade of serving on the AZ Water Board of Directors in various roles, I will no longer be a part of where the action is. I have sincerely enjoyed my time spent on both the AZ Water Board and the AWWA Board, and through the years have come to know so many individuals who have helped make both associations successful. It is those types of individuals who have volunteered and dedicated so many hours to benefit the members and I am so proud to say that I served with many of them.

One might question the commitment necessary to fulfill the obligations of volunteering. While there have been times I’ve questioned the wisdom of not learning how to say “no”, there have been no regrets. As the saying goes, “you get out of it what you put into it”. And without the commitment of the other individuals I have had the pleasure of working with over the years on the Board of Directors, our association would be nowhere near as successful as we’ve become. I would like to name all of those who have had an impact on my own commitment for all these years, but the list is too long and I’d regret having omitted anyone.

But enough about me. The real question of the day is, “what is it that you’re willing to commit, to make this association better than what it is today? Have you ever considered joining one or more of the numerous committees that help drive this association?” Without your involvement, how do you expect to continue to receive all the wonderful opportunities that have been offered to you over the years? Yes, it does take time, it takes commitment, and it does take a passion to step up to the plate to try to make a difference. We have many talented and knowledgeable people that are members of AZ Water, AWWA and WEF that are more than capable of making the transition from being just a member to becoming an “ACTIVE” member. That’s where the real difference is when you belong to something. Being active means you get involved, helping others through the various talents that you possess and becoming a part of an organization that you feel a sense of pride in being a member.

By the time you read this report I will have already attended AWWA’s Annual Conference in Chicago. Many of you know that over the past several years, Harold Thomas (another one of those individuals who “commits” his time) and I will have hopped on our motorcycles along with many others from across the nation to ride with purpose in support of Water for People (WFP). This is our 5th year and based on the level of sponsors that have supported us again this year, we will have raised nearly $70,000 for WFP. That will put us at nearly $325,000 since we started in San Antonio. Not bad for a bunch of bikers! I would like to thank the AZ Water Association for their generous

donation of $2000 towards our efforts this year.While at ACE 2010, I attended my last AWWA Board meeting

and also had the honor of introducing the incoming AWWA Director from Arizona – Frank Tantone, Past President of AZ Water and Principal at Greeley and Hansen. Knowing Frank, you can be assured that AZ Water will be well represented for the next three years while he serves on the AWWA Board. I would envision his reports to be detailed in the current events that AWWA is involved with, and believe me, there are many! While I am saddened to have to leave, knowing someone like Frank is taking my place is a comforting thought. He is one of those individuals that I spoke of earlier and was a mentor to me for many years on what volunteering and commitment are all about.

So with a final farewell, I want to thank all of you for allowing me the pleasure of serving as your Director on the AWWA Board. It has been an honor and a privilege and an experience I will never forget. And for all the years of support, I would like to personally thank Debbie Muse for her insight, knowledge, and especially her friendship over the years. Farewell!


delegate’s reportI RECENTLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE WATER ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION Member Association Exchange (WEFMAX) meeting in San Diego. This is the third WEFMAX meeting I have been able to attend and I think in many ways it was the best. The meeting was attended by over a dozen WEF Member Associations (MAs) from around the Country and many MAs sent more than one representative to the meeting. The goal of WEFMAX is to share the initiatives that are successful for each MA and to discuss issues that still need to be resolved. One of the MA’s had successfully implemented a program that allowed them to retain existing members and increase their overall membership; a strategy that AZ Water intends to implement this year.

We recently received news that the WEF Executive Director, Bill Bertera, will be resigning the end of this year. I have copied the announcement below. With AWWA recently announcing a new executive director and WEF searching for one, it appears the direction our National organizations will be taking in the future could be changing. It also appears both organizations are facing the same issue that our overall water industry is facing; that the older established leadership is leaving the industry, providing opportunities for others to move up. I hope we see the young professional group step into leadership roles throughout the industry.

RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE WATER ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION“Bill Bertera, WEF’s executive director for the past ten years, has announced that he will be

leaving the organization effective December 31, 2010. He will leave the organization with an outstanding history of accomplishments and in a good position to continue its role as a leading water organization.

Bill Bertera oversaw many positive developments at WEF during his tenure with the organization,” said WEF President Paul Freedman. “Today the Water Environment Federation is stronger than ever as we take on the challenges of the new decade. Bill will leave behind a great legacy of accomplishments for WEF and the overall water profession.”

The WEF Board of Trustees will select an executive search firm to manage the search process. Once selected, the Board expects to work closely with the chosen firm to implement an effective open process, with the goal of having a new executive director in place by early 2011. The new executive director, in partnership with the Board of Trustees, will be responsible for leading the organization to realize its strategic vision, serve its membership, and successfully lead the business operations.

The new executive director will oversee a staff of nearly 100 and will be based in the organization’s Alexandria, Va. Headquarters.”

Hopefully the change in leadership at our two National organizations will provide an opportunity to try to unify the two large water associations at the National level.

Paul KINSHELLAStantec

AZ Water WEF Delegate


Joshua BROWNDamon S. Williams and Associates

Achieving Steady State Flow —Avondale Wastewater Equalization Facilities

The City of Avondale Charles M. Wolf Water Resource Center was recently expanded from 6.0 mgd to 9.0 mgd treatment capacity. An integral part of the expansion was flow equalization (EQ), which was implemented to reduce capital costs and improve process operations though steady state plant operation. The new EQ facilities have been on line since January 2010, and the plant has been operating at steady state conditions since March. Diurnal flow swings to the primary, secondary, and disinfection processes have been eliminated. This article presents the flow equalization concept chosen for Avondale, and discusses how the facility successfully approximates “steady state” flow through the plant, with operational data and results.

INTRODUCTIONAvondale Phase I Expansion

The City of Avondale is a fast growing community of 80,000 in the southwest area of the Phoenix Metro area. The City is served by the Charles M. Wolf Water Resource Center (Plant), an activated sludge facility with biological nutrient removal that was recently expanded to 9 mgd. This recent expansion was lead by a design team of Damon S. Williams Associates, and Carollo Engineers, and PCL, the Construction Manager at Risk, with active City of Avondale involvement.

The expansion included the following new equipment:• Influent pump station • Headworks with mechanical step screens and vortex grit removal• Flow equalization basin and pump station• Primary clarifier and sludge and scum pump station • Upgrades to the aeration system• Chlorine contact basin • Effluent pump station and plant water pump station• Waste Activated Sludge (WAS) thickening • Anaerobic digesters and waste gas flare The plant schematic is shown in Figure 1 below.

Figure 1 - Avondale Plant Process SchematicTo meet peak hour capacity requirements without a costly expansion of the secondary treatment facilities,

equalization facilities were provided. These requirements are shown in Table 1 below.

Table 1 - Avondale Plant Design FlowsThe EQ basins allow a 30% reduction in peak hour design flows,

reducing the volume requirements of the aeration basins and secondary clarifiers for all phases.

Flow Equalization Avondale utilizes a side stream flow equalization process. When

influent flows exceed the average daily flow, a portion of flow is diverted and stored in the EQ basin. When flows drop below the average daily

flow, the contents of the EQ basin are returned to the process. The design criteria of this type of EQ facility may be calculated from the diurnal curve. Figure 2 shows influent flows from a typical weekday earlier this year.

Figure 2 - Diurnal Curve The average flow is the flat line at approximately 5 mgd.

When the diurnal curve is above the average flow, the EQ basin is being filled. When the diurnal curve is below the average flow, the EQ basin is being emptied. The maximum flow from the EQ is 2.5 mgd as shown. The total flow into the basin is the shaded area above the average flow line. This day’s volume is 470,000 gallons.


Avondale Equalization FacilitiesThe actual Avondale EQ design is shown in Table 2 below:

Table 2 - Avondale Equalization Facility Design CriteriaThe EQ basin is a rectangular structure, 40 feet by 120 feet, with a working depth of approximately

20 feet. The basin is enclosed and ventilated to the plant odor control facility. Inside the basin are 4 submersible propeller mixers that maintain solids in suspension during storage. The contents are not aerated.

EQ fillingGravity flow to the EQ is controlled by the inlet valve, a 20” plug valve. The

valve is modulated by the central SCADA system to maintain flow to the primary clarifier at a setpoint.

EQ returnInfluent is pumped back to the process with submersible pumps installed in a

dry pit. The pumps are controlled by the central SCADA system to maintain a total flow to the aeration basins.

Process ControlThe plant’s SCADA system controls both the inlet valve and the EQ return pumps.

The flow setpoint for the inlet valve is higher than the flow setpoint for the EQ pumps. The difference, or deadband, prevents control of the inlet valve from interfering with control of the pumps. The two setpoints are operator inputs, and their average should equal the total daily flow. It is important that the setpoints are correct. Underestimating the setpoint will cause accumulation in the EQ basin, reducing storage volume. Overestimating the setpoint results in running out of stored effluent during low flows. Either impedes the goal to achieve a steady state condition.

Operational DataThe plant has been

operated both with and without equalization. Figure 5 at right shows flow and level data for the 5-day period from February 8, 2010 through February 13, 2010.

Figure 5 - Plant Flow and Level Data without EQ in Service

The three flow curves are nearly identical in shape, indicating that the flow variation is not attenuated as it moves through the plant. The EQ level remains unchanged through this period, because flows are neither added nor taken from the EQ basin. Figure 6 below shows flow and level data for the

5-day period from March 2, 2010 to March 6, 2010.

Figure 6 Avondale Flows and Levels with EQ in Service

This data demonstrates the plant is achieving nearly a steady state condition. Only the raw influent curve has a diurnal pattern. Primary influent and secondary effluent flows are relatively flat, indicating the steady state flow throughout the plant. The EQ level varies significantly.

Figure 4 EQ Pump Station

Figure 3 Equalization Basin

EQ PumpStation

InletValve


Centralizing Process ControlSteady state flow conditions have simplified plant operations at Avondale. By achieving steady state flow,

downstream process control is simplified. To maintain EQ basin operation, operators check daily if the EQ reached high, or low levels, and modify the

flow setpoints accordingly. The additional effort monitoring the EQ basin is offset by the reduced monitoring requirements throughout

the rest of the plant. With a diurnal flow pattern, it is essential for blowers, mixed liquor return pumps, and RAS pumps to vary their output significantly though the day. With a steady state flow, the output of this equipment is relatively constant, and can even be operated manually, with minor, daily adjustments. For Avondale, this means the staff doesn’t need DO probes in the aeration basins, or depend on constant process air flow adjustments to the various basin zones. It also means the blowers no longer must ramp up and ramp down to accommodate flows change. The disinfection chemical pumps can also be operated at relatively constant rates, with less dependence upon chlorine residual measurements.

Process ImprovementsSeveral process improvements have been noted. Steady state operation has stabilized the food/

microorganism (FM) ratio, and the bacteria population no longer sees daily periods of starvation (low FM) at low flows, and excess FM at high flows. The secondary clarifiers are not subjected to flow fluctuations either, most notably peak flows, which may reach the equipment limits, especially if a basin is down for service.

Other IssuesSeveral issues were identified during design, including odor control, stored sludge going septic, and basin

cleaning. None of these have become a problem. Within the basin, even during filling, there is little surface agitation to release odorous gas. Since the airspace is ventilated and the foul air treated at the Odor Control Facility, no odors are emitted from the basin. Mixers within the basin keep the solids suspended, preventing sludge buildup that would create septic conditions. Basin inspections after 5 months of operations revealed very little solids accumulation on the basin walls as shown in Figure 7 left.

Figure 8, right, shows the columns at the downstream end, where scum deposition is not observed.

The relatively small amount of scum buildup suggests that the basin cleanings will be simple.

SUMMARYThe advantages of operating a large wastewater plant at a condition

approaching steady state are being realized at the Avondale Plant. Operating the EQ basin has allowed operators to better control the process, as the wide swings in flow and loading have been eliminated. Many systems, such as the blowers, air flow to the basins, RAS and MLR pumping have been put into manual, since automatic adjustments are no longer needed to compensate for diurnal flow variations. The freedom to operate in

manual mode without sacrificing optimal plant performance provides Avondale with operational security in case of control systems, or instrument failures.

Achieving Steady State Flow — Avondale Wastewater Equalization Facilitiescontinued from page 11

ACKNOW-LEDGEMENTS

Todd Carpenter, the operations superintendent for the Avondale plant, co-presented this paper at the 2010 AZ Water conference.

Figure 7 - EQ Interior Support Columns Upstream End

Figure 8 - Interior Support Columns, Downstream End

Scum accumulationon column


Local Strength and the International Resources of One of the World’s Largest Professional Services Firms

In Phoenix: 1 602 216 7200In Flagstaff: 1 928 913 8300

www.ghd.com

Water & Wastewater Planning, Design, Operations & Maintenance

Civil Engineering, Land Surveying & Architectural Services

• Over 27,000 pro

ducts in stock & re

ady to ship

• Experttechnical

support &personal

customerservice

• 100%money-b

ack guarantee

800-548-1234www.usabluebook.com

KATIE FLANAGAN

1820 W. DRAKE DRIVE, SUITE 105, TEMPE, AZ 85283480-940-6923 FAX 480-940-6935 CELL 623-680-7394

E-mail: [email protected]


committee N E W S

BIOSOLIDS & RESIDUALS COMMITTEEFernando Sarmiento, Committee Chair

Vision, Mission and StrategiesInspire a spirit of collaboration among Arizona stewards of the environment, including professionals, the public and the regulatory community in an effort to assure the protection of public health and the environment and to optimize the benefits of recycling biosolids and residuals through the advancement of state-of-the-art treatment technologies, and science-based practices. The AZ Water Biosolids & Residuals Committee strives to identify emerging trends and promote “best-practices” for the treatment and disposal of biosolids and residuals in the state of Arizona using multiple tools. The Committee is also highly motivated in creating awareness on energy efficiency and renewable energy opportunities as well as promoting sustainable practices for the reduction of GHG emissions/carbon footprint.

The Biosolids & Residuals Committee held an open meeting during the 2010 AZ Water Annual Conference in Glendale on Thursday, May 6, 2010. The session provided an introduction of attendees, the Mission/Vision/Goals and Objectives, the Past Year Activities, On-line Seminar Series, the Committee Webpage, Facility Tours, Biosolids-related Website Links and Biosolids Disposal practice in

Arizona. Fernando Sarmiento also called for champions to lead in the issues of Regulatory – Monitoring, Public Outreach and Education, Operational Educational Outreach Opportunities, and Energy and Resource Recovery. During the meeting they discussed the AZ Water Luncheon Participation, possibility of LinkedIn group, Annual Social Event(s) and an open invitation to join the committee.

Web-page of the Biosolids & Residuals Committee Sees the Light at AZWater.orgThe Web-page of the Biosolids & Residuals Committee is working. The design and layout of the web-page was championed by Angela Lucci. Populating the related web-pages and reviving the links was boosted by Doug Taylor. Both continue their efforts to solicit planned information inclusions, to alleviate glitches and to resuscitate some links, with help from Annette Reese. The link to the web-page is http://www.azwater.org/Committees/BiosolidsResiduals/pages/Default.aspx, Enjoy!

Webcast “Solar Power Plant for Wastewater Reclamation in Arizona”July 15, 2010, 11:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

The first in Arizona, a 1-Megawatt solar array power plant is constructed to energize a Wastewater Reclamation Facility (WRF). This large renewable energy system provides 40% of the power demand to clean the 30 million gallons daily incoming wastewater into

Pima County’s Roger Road WRF. The Arizona Water Association in conjunction with Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department is offering a two-part webcast on this Solar Power System. Part 1-webcast on July 15th, 2010, 11:00 am – 12:15 pm will address the Site Selection criteria, the Technology and Vendor selection process, the Power Purchase Agreement, the construction and start-up issues and the expected Green aspects of the systems in terms of the environment and money matters. Part 2-webcast in December 2010 will be dedicated to the operational aspects of the Solar Power System, the reliability, the maintenance requirements, the execution of the agreement in place and the lessons learned.

Webcast “Demystifying Polymers for Operators, Designers and Engineers”August 26, 2010, 11:00 a.m.This on-line workshop is intended to unfold and try to demystify key facts about polymers and their optimization from an application perspective and safety guidelines to follow. The guest speakers invited for this on-line workshop include Peter LaMontagne of ‘The Centrifuge Guys’, Chris Wilson of ‘Greeley and Hansen’ and Mark Marcelletti of ‘Ashland Specialty Chemicals’.

The registration for the webcast is $10 for AZ Water members and $15 for non-members; an attendee must be a registrant in order to receive PDHs for a workshop. The registration information will be posted on the AZ Water Website [www.azwater.org] so that interested parties can benefit from these training opportunities.

Committee Members:


YOUNG PROFESSIONALS COMMITTEEJacqueline Shaw, Committee Chair

On Sunday, June 13th, AZ Water Young Professionals Jessica Dresang, Patrick Goodfellow, Jeanne Jensen, Nathan Lester, Laurel Passantino, Jacqueline Shaw, and Anh Quach participated as judges in the First Annual WEF Wastewater Challenge. The competition took place in Phoenix, Arizona, as part of the 2010 WEF Collection Systems Conference. The Wastewater Challenge is a hands-on competition that requires teams of college students to build a wastewater treatment system from an assortment of household products. The challenge states:

A collection systems crew needs your help. There has been a sanitary sewer overflow due to a massive rain event. The treatment plant has reached its capacity, and the collection system is surcharged. Because of the extreme urgency of the situation, the crew has turned to you and your team, the local wastewater treatment experts, for some help. Unfortunately, it’s the evening of Thanksgiving Day, and all the stores are closed. The only resources you have are the odds and ends in your garage. You quickly gather all the materials you can use and come up with a way to protect the town’s drinking water supply from getting contaminated by this sanitary sewer overflow. Let’s hope that you and your team can save the day!

Ten teams from schools from across the U.S. participated in the Wastewater Challenge. The competition got a little messy as the garage-style treatment systems processed the simulated wastewater, but participants and judges alike had a lot of fun. Ultimately, UC Irvine won the competition based on an outstanding design, presentation, and treated water quality. Congratulations UC Irvine!

Team UC Irvine took first place based on an outstanding design, presentation, and treated water quality.

AZ Water Young Professionals assess and score a Team’s Design.

committee newscontinued from page 13


DAVE REDMAN

1820 W. DRAKE DRIVE, SUITE 105, TEMPE, AZ 85283480-940-6923 FAX 480-940-6935 CELL 480-415-7303

E-mail: [email protected]


Brooke STEVENSONandJennifer WESTPBS & J

Lake Havasu City Wastewater Sewer Expansion Program Pairs with PBS&J for a Strong Finish

Lake Havasu City, Arizona, is a city of 52,000 residents nestled on the eastern shores of Lake Havasu, which is well known for its recreational fishing and boating. To address rising concerns over groundwater quality in and around the lake and river, the City embarked on an 11-year program, now in its ninth year, to convert the majority of properties within the city limits from septic systems to a conventional gravity sewer system—abandoning about 22,000 septic tanks in the process. This project was the first to use the Partial Engineers Certificate of Completion (PECOC) which allows homes to be connected as the system is completed. This massive effort required numerous streets and residents’ yards to be dug up to connect the new infrastructure.

PBS&J, ranked 16th in Engineering News-Record’s sewer/wastewater category of the 2010 Top 500 Design Firms, had reviewed previous concerns of the city’s wastewater system design. City staff retained PBS&J to provide design and construction management services for the Wastewater System Expansion (WWSE) Program’s remaining sewer expansion areas: Mockingbird and Trotwood (the two largest phases of the citywide project), and construction management services for the Chemehuevi area.

PICKING UP THE PACE TO CAPITALIZE ON A PRIME MARKET

In late 2008, the City decided to accelerate the conclusion of the WWSE Program by up to two years to take advantage of a very competitive contractor bidding environment and create efficiencies. To accomplish this, the City contracted with PBS&J for the design of the Mockingbird and Trotwood sewer collection areas. These areas are the largest to date and are comprised of approximately 3,400 properties and roughly 32 miles of 6-inch to 12-inch diameter sewer main.

The City established a very aggressive design services schedule of six months. PBS&J exceeded this schedule and delivered 100 percent design documents to the City with a month to spare.

DESIGN AHEAD OF ITS TIMEThe primary purpose of Lake Havasu

City’s WWSE Program is to protect the community’s groundwater and beautiful lake by eliminating approximately 22,000 residential septic systems and connecting the residents to a new sewer system. In the mid 1990s, several beaches along the shores of Lake Havasu were closed due to bacterial contamination. This garnered national media attention and had a negative impact to the local economy. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality attributed the contamination to the thousands of aging septic systems directly uphill from the lake. Because of the important role that drinking water and wastewater pipelines play in the community, the design team went to great lengths to ensure the pipelines’ proper design.

PBS&J also established design criteria and prepared preliminary design documentation. The team developed base files based on survey information and geographic information system (GIS) databases. A primary objective was designing horizontal and vertical sewer alignments that were technically sound and cost-effective for the City, in addition to designing preliminary on-property lateral alignments. The project also included various field studies including a geotechnical investigation, hydrogen sulfide analysis, scour analysis, and hydraulic modeling. PBS&J increased the minimum slope of the lines as part of the design criteria to help reduce hydrogen sulfide generation in the lines.

Confident that there will be favorable impact to groundwater quality along the Colorado River with this implemented system, the city is poised to grow and meet the community’s needs for the next 40 years.

Contractor crews work efficiently to dig trenches for laying mainline pipe


IT’S ALL PART OF THE (SEWER) MASTER PLANIn addition to completing the sewer design, PBS&J is providing a technical review and assessment of the

City’s recently completed sewer master plan. This role involves a detailed review of the master plan and the dynamic hydraulic wastewater model in Infoworks developed by another firm.

Hydraulic computer modeling has come of age—a critical component in the planning and evaluation of public and private water systems. It is now an integral step in connecting system planning, design, and system operations. And when integrated with GIS and databases, hydraulic modeling becomes a powerful tool for efficiently and cost-effectively addressing infrastructure needs.

The goal is to review the planning work completed to date and identify opportunities for refinement and cost savings. This process will include review of modeling and design criteria, evaluation of how serial pumping was modeled in the system, verification of whether surcharging in the system is an issue, and evaluation of treatment plant options for planning purposes. Some parts of the system have been identified to require additional storage that may not be needed if key connections are made. Additionally, there are areas of the city that are experiencing low pressure with new industries being proposed.

Major refinements include sewer generation rates, sewer model calibration through flow testing, phasing analysis, operational enhancements, and a ten-year capital improvement program update. These efforts help the City to more accurately model the existing system and assure that improvements being designed have been optimized for its flow needs.

COMING FULL CIRCLE WITH CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT PBS&J is conducting the largest amount of sewer construction work experienced within a single year in

Lake Havasu City. To date, more than 17,000 septic tanks have been removed overall since the start of the project. PBS&J is performing construction management for the Chemehuevi and Mockingbird phases, and will begin work on the Trotwood phase in mid-June. The project is intrusive to residents, requiring construction that impacts streets and yards, further enforcing the goal to expedite these final phases.

To ensure the system is being constructed properly and efficiently, PBS&J does the following:

• Monitors the milling of the entire street width to remove all asphalt concrete

• Oversees that laterals are installed from the mainline to just beyond homeowners’ property lines

• Approves pipeline pressure- and mandrel testing • Monitors landscaping during and after the

pipeline installation

EXCEEDING TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMESDespite this extensive construction effort, the

City has realized substantial savings to installing the sewer system by taking advantage of recent reduction in construction costs, re-evaluating expansion of the current treatment plant and its overall capacity, and complete online project delivery. In November of 2001, the City held a bond election that overwhelmingly passed, authorizing the City to bond for $463 million to construct the WWSE. Recent estimates show that the final costs will be closer to $355 million, more than $100 million less than the original estimate.

COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITY PBS&J has brought cost-effective technical expertise through a comprehensive approach to expedite the

sewer expansion project with innovative design and construction management solutions, coupled with its established local presence. Their role is not only to be a technical resource for the City, but also to address the community’s interests. No stranger to the desert Southwest, the company has been committed to being an integral part of the region for nearly 20 years. Supported by offices across the country, PBS&J’s Lake Havasu City office specializes in meeting the needs of this city as well as Mohave County and surrounding river communities. According to Lake Havasu City Engineer Greg Froslie, “PBS&J brought to the Program exactly what was needed for a strong finish. They interjected much needed enthusiasm and excitement to our community and projects and have consistently exceeded my expectations.”

Milling in progress to remove asphalt from a residential street


THE PIPELINEOperator Certification Challenge

SEE ANSWERS ON PAGE 34

WATER TREATMENT GRADES 1 & 21. What are suspended substances found

in surface waters that cause light to be reflected?

A. Fulvic acids B. Humic acids C. Suspended solids D. Turbidity

2. How much water is contained in a basin that measures 150 feet long, 75 feet wide, and the water level is 18 feet deep?

A. 100,000 Gallons B. 202,550 Gallons C. 750,000 Gallons D. 1,515,000 Gallons

3. What is the requirement for certification level for the operator in charge of a very large surface water treatment facility in Arizona?

A. Grade 1 Water Treatment Operator certificate

B. Grade 2 Water Treatment Operator certificate

C. Grade 3 Water Treatment Operator certificate

D. Grade 4 Water Treatment Operator certificate

4. If a fire extinguisher is rated A-B-C, on which type of fire should it NOT be used?

A. Combustible materials fire B. Flammable liquids fire C. Electrical fires D. Burning metals

5. What is the feed rate in pounds per day (ppd) for a chlorinator if the dosage is 2.65 mg/L and the flow being treated is 2.75 MGD?

A. 7.3 ppd B. 21.5 ppd C. 60.8 ppd D. 200.0 ppd

WATER TREATMENT GRADES 3 AND 41. What is the recommended dosage

of fluoride in water with a naturally occurring level of 0.3 mg/L where the average annual air temperature is 80 degrees F?

A. 0.7 mg/L B. 0.55 mg/L C. 0.4 mg/L D. 0.25 mg/L

2. Which of the following softening processes used in drinking water requires treatment to reduce corrosiveness following the removal of hardness?

A. Chemical precipitation B. Ion exchange C. Reverse osmosis D. All the above

3. What is the detention time in a flocculation basin 45 feet long, 35 feet wide, with 16 feet of water if the flow through the basin is 4.8 million gallons per day (MGD)?

A. 15.6 minutes B. 18.0 minutes C. 56.6 minutes D. 88.0 minutes

4. What is the pumping rate in milliliters per minute (mL/min) of an alum pump treating 7.3 million gallons per day (MGD) at a dosage of 12.5 mg/L? Assume the alum purity is 5.36 lbs per gallon

A. 150 mL/min B. 261 mL/min C. 373 mL/min D. 750 mL/min

5. A water system uses an average of 22 Million Gallons per Day. What is the monthly production in acre-feet, presuming there are 30 days in a month?

A. 1,000 Acre-feet B. 2,026 Acre-feet C. 9,456 Acre-feet D. 15,155 Acre-feet

WATER DISTRIBUTION GRADES 1 & 21. While treating a well in production

with 1.5 mg/L sodium hypochlorite, you discover that your residual is 0.7 mg/L. What is the chlorine demand?


2. What is the pressure in pounds per square inch (psi) at the base of a column of water 147 feet high?

A. 64 psi B. 100 psi C. 147 psi D. 233 psi

3. Under the Total Coliform Rule, when you collect 72 coliform samples per month, how many may be positive without violating the Rule?

A. None. All must be negative. B. 3 positives C. 69 positives D. 72 positives

4. What is the detention time in a reservoir 85 feet in diameter with 22 feet of water if the flow through the reservoir is 480 gallons per minute (GPM)?

A. 15.6 hours B. 18.0 hours C. 32.4 hours D. 88.0 hours

5. What is the production rate of a well in Million Gallons per Day (MGD) if you pump 16,500 gallons in 90 minutes?

A. 0.26 MGD B. 1.00 MGD C. 1.65 MGD D. 2.00 MGD

WATER DISTRIBUTION GRADES 3 & 41. How much water may be contained in

an 8-inch pipe that is 200 feet long? A. 100 gallons B. 125 gallons C. 190 gallons D. 522 gallons

2. What is the action level for lead in the Lead and Copper Rule?


3. Which of the following is the chemical formula for sodium hypochlorite?

A. Ca(OCl)2 B. NaOCl C. SoHCl D. NaCl

4. What is the annual safe yield of a well in acre-feet (AF) if it is producing 880 gallons per minute (GPM) with a stable drawdown of 22 feet?

A. 105.6 AF B. 1418 AF C. 3204 AF D. 880 AF


5. What is a reverse flow condition caused by a difference in water pressure, which causes water to flow back into the distribution pipes of a potable water supply from any other type of source?

A. Backflow B. Cross-connection C. Direct connection D. Force main

WASTEWATER COLLECTION GRADES 1 & 21. Pumps and other mechanical

equipment require maintenance and energy, so their use is avoided whenever possible.

A. True B. False

2. What is the term for using reflected sunlight or a powerful spot light to inspect a sewer line between two adjacent manholes?

A. Beaming B. Lamping C. Sun-spotting D. Telemetering

3. If the difference in elevation between two manholes 400 feet apart is 56 inches, what is the slope of the sewer line connecting them?

A. 1.2% B. 1.5% C. 1.7% D. 2.0%

4. A trench is to be dug 9 feet deep, 3 feet wide, and 300 feet long. How many cubic yards (CY) of dirt will be removed?

A. 100 CY B. 200 CY C. 300 CY D. 447 CY

5. A pump is forcing 695 gallons per minute of wastewater through a 16 inch force main that operates completely full. What is the velocity in feet per second (FPS) through this force main?

A. 0.7 FPS B. 1.2 FPS C. 2.5 FPS D. 3.0 FPS

WASTEWATER COLLECTION GRADES 3 & 41. One concern of bar racks in lift

stations is odors. A. True B. False

2. What is the dosage of hydrogen peroxide in mg/L when 55 gallons of solution are added to a sewer flowing an average of 695 gallons per minute? Presume a concentration of 1.0 pound of hydrogen peroxide per gallon of solution.

A. 1.0 mg/L B. 6.6 mg/L C. 8.34 mg/L D. 9. 47 mg/L

3. What is the unit of electrical resistance?

A. Amp B. Delta C. Ohm D. Volt

4. If a pump lowers a 5 foot diameter wet well 8 feet in 3 minutes while wastewater is filling the wet well at 200 gallons per minute (GPM), how much is the pump pumping? Select the closest answer.

A. 150 GPM B. 300 GPM C. 600 GPM D. 1200 GPM

5. Which of the following chemicals may be used to treat odors at manholes?

A. Calcium Oxide B. Hydrogen Sulfide C. Sodium Chloride D. Hydrogen Peroxide

WASTEWATER TREATMENT GRADES 1 & 21. What would be the BOD removal in a

sedimentation basin if the influent BOD is 321 mg/L and the effluent BOD is 79 mg/L?

A. 45 % B. 55 % C. 65 % D. 75 %

2. How much water in million gallons (MG) can a basin measuring 120 feet in diameter and 18 feet deep hold?

A. 1.05 MG B. 1.28 MG C. 1.52 MG D. 18.2 MG

3. What is the meaning of MLSS? A. Milli-Liters of Suspended Solids B. Multi-Linear Sheet Synthetic C. Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids D. Municipal Local Sanitary Sewer

4. How many linear feet of weir are there around the outside of a basin 83.85 feet in diameter?

A. 195 Feet B. 263 Feet C. 377 Feet D. 500 Feet

5. If dissolved oxygen is less than 1.0 mg/L in a basin, what might happen?

A. Anaerobic conditions may develop. B. Sludge will be digested more quickly. C. Suspended solids may not settle. D. Algae may produce more oxygen.

WASTEWATER TREATMENT GRADES 3 & 41. An orifice plate is a type of air

metering device. A. True B. False

2. What is the Mean Cell Residence Time of an aeration basin with 13,000 lbs of suspended solids, 800 lbs/day of solids wasted, and 475 lbs/day in the effluent?

A. 6.5 Days B. 8.0 Days C. 10.2 Days D. 18.0 Days

3. What is the organic loading to a basin in pounds per day (ppd) with a flow of 4.3 MGD and an influent BOD of 400 mg/L?

A. 2850 ppd B. 8641 ppd C. 14345 ppd D. 28280 ppd

4. Estimate the solids concentration fed to a digester which consists of the mixing 7,800 gallons of a 4.8% primary sludge with 5,500 gallons of a 7.5% secondary sludge.

A. 1.7 % B. 4.4 % C. 5.9 % D. 6.4 %

5. What is the loading to a trickling filter in pounds per day per square foot (PPDPSF) if the filter is 133 feet in diameter with an influent flow of 7.6 MGD and an influent BOD of 148 mg/L?

A. 0.500 PPDPSF B. 0.676 PPDPSF C. 0.965 PPDPSF D. 1.322 PPDPSF

BY TED BAILEY [email protected]


association N E W S

AZ WATER ASSOCIATION 2010-2011 BOARD MEMBERSFront Row L-R: Frank Tantone, Paul Kinshella, Don Manthe, Brandy Kelso, Patty Kennedy, Teresa Smith-DeHesus, outgoing Past President Vance Lee, Jason Vernon Back Row L-R: Kevin Conway, outgoing AWWA Director Mark Stratton, Chris Hill, Chuck Graf, John Bannen, Dan Lueder, Jack Bryck, Rick Buck (missing from photo, John Warner and Floyd Marsh).

OUTGOING BOARD MEMBERSL - Don Manthe presents recognition for Board Service Award to Marie Pearthree

and Chris Hill.

WEF DELEGATE AWARDR - Paul Freedman, WEF President,

presents Jim Pembroke with the WEF Delegate Service Award.

WEF SERVICE AWARDR - Paul Freedman, WEF President, presents Don Manthe the 2009-2010 WEF Service Award as President.

AWWA SERVICE AWARDR - Juan Carlos Perez, AWWA Vice President, presents Don Manthe with the 2009-2010 AWWA Service Award as Chair.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE REGISTRATION AND AV COMMITTEESL-R Randy Ottens, Sherrie Echarte, Brad Colby, Annette Duarte, Adam Zendejas, Mark Martinez, Cindy Martinez, Rick Buck, and Fred Bollinger.

2010 annual conference C O M M I T T E E

ANNUAL CONFERENCEVance Lee, Chair

CONFERENCE PROGRAM TASK FORCEKathy Mills, ChairRobin BainKevin ChadwickDale ConoverAimee ConroyKevin ConwayRaymond CraftMichelle DeHaanRob DobaAnnete DuarteSherrie Echarte’Seth FronkJohn GetchellAndrew Gilmore

(L) Don Manthe receives Kachina from incoming President, John Warner.

Gretchen GotliebMark GrossKatie HammerDarlene HelmRobert HollanderMaureen HymelSusan KinkadeNathan LesterGustavo LopezJohn MascheRobert McCandlessVincent MorenoDeborah MuseAlan O’BrienAndrea Odegard-BegayErin PysellDave RedmanSreeram RengarajRyan RhoadesRichard Sacks

Philip SalettaFernando SarmientoRick ScottSteve ShepardMichael SimpsonSmita SivakumarDawn SlauteTeresa Smith-DeHesusDavid SnowMichael SylvainCrystal ThompsonTim ThomureQueenie TsuiMark UrbanJason VernonRobert WebbSteve WedwickJames Wright

REGISTRATION COMMITTEECindy Martinez, ChairBrad ColbyAnnette DuarteSherrie EchartéAdam Zendejas

AUDIO VISUAL COMMITTEERandy Ottens, ChairFred BollingerRick BuckRita BuckMark Martinez

PHOTOGRAPHERGary Smith

BARBECUE COMMITTEEVince Moreno, ChairTeresa Smith-DeHesus

EXHIBITSJason Vernon, ChairTerry Hirshberg

GOLF TOURNAMENTJay Bailey, ChairTerry Hirshberg

RECEPTIONVicki-Lynne Scott, Chair


Dan BOOKER, P.E.Wilson Engineers

AZ WATER 2010 WASTEWATER PROJECT OF THE YEARChandler Airport Water Reclamation Facility Expansion to 15MGD:Transforming Community Needs to Community Resouces

Chandler, Arizona has grown from cotton fields to microchip production quickly. The City is no stranger to developing dynamic, responsive solutions to infrastructure challenges driven by growth in the semiconductor industry – challenges created by high-tech production schedules as well as explosive population growth.

The story of the Airport Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) expansion to treat 15 million gallons per day (MGD) begins as wastewater flows approach the citywide wastewater treatment capacity. In mid-2005, the City of Chandler began developing the design for the expansion of the Airport WRF. Construction was completed in November 2009 at a cost of $76 million, completing the largest capital improvement project in Chandler’s 98-year history.

The original master plan for the Airport WRF scheduled the facility to transition from extended aeration to solids digestion with the 15 MGD expansion. The digestion process reduces costs for disposal of residual solids, but has the potential to emit significant odors should the process turn “sour.” With pre-design of the Airport WRF, the City of Chandler re-evaluated the decision to implement solids digestion.

The Airport WRF was initially constructed on farmland neighboring a landfill, public airport and fields of cotton and hay. Since that time:

• Chandler closed the landfill and developed a public park on the site.

• The adjacent municipal airport grew increasingly busy, supporting commercial activity in addition to private use.

• Zoning changes allowed development of single family homes in close proximity to the Airport WRF.

• Disposal costs for residual sludge had not risen as expected; the potential savings for the digestion process were real, but limited.

After reviewing the benefits and drawbacks of the existing and proposed treatment processes, the City of Chandler elected to continue utilizing the extended aeration process. With this decision, Chandler made a conscious decision to balance O&M costs with the needs of the community.

With the basic treatment process established, Chandler evaluated improvements to address operational issues caused by filamentous bacteria. Sludge settling and dewatering were a primary focus as filamentous bacteria can inhibit these processes, leading to increased operational and disposal costs. Reduction of the floating foam layer generated by these organisms was also targeted as control of the foam layer has historically been problematic.

Chandler selected a unique application for an established treatment process to suppress growth of filamentous bacteria. Treatment plants that discharge to lakes and streams are required to remove phosphorus to prevent the growth of algae within the discharge water body. The Airport WRF is not bound by this requirement because the facility produces reclaimed water for reuse (landscape irrigation, for example), rather than disposal to a natural water way. The phosphorus removal process utilizes an anaerobic zone upstream of the aeration basins. The anaerobic zone limits the growth of filamentous bacteria, and enhances the growth of bacteria that settle well, meeting the plant’s immediate O&M needs. This process also provides the foundation required for phosphorus removal – should the requirement be implemented in future regulatory action.

Ariel View of the Chandler Airport WRF

Two Views

of Pre-Stage

Basin


Each process comprising the Airport WRF required upgrades to meet increased design capacity. The Influent and RAS pump stations were expanded to meet loading requirements of the current expansion as well as a planned, future expansion to 20-MGD. In a similar fashion, control structures were upgraded to meet the requirements of future expansion.

Chandler’s decision to maintain the extended aeration process (instead of moving to sludge digestion) proved particularly challenging with respect to the biological nutrient removal processes. Aeration basins and secondary clarifiers required an additional 50% capacity to meet the requirements of the extended aeration process.

Disinfection facilities also required significant upgrades. The existing low-pressure low-intensity ultraviolet disinfection process was nearing the end of its useful life, with expansion requiring significant upgrades and even replacement of the existing system. Chandler elected to utilize sodium hypochlorite as the disinfectant for the facility. A key consideration was the need for water discharged from the Airport WRF to maintain a disinfectant residual for distribution within the City’s reuse system. The decision created the need to closely monitor and manage disinfection by-products, but best fit the overall needs and management philosophy of the Airport WRF and reuse system.

Perhaps more than any other Arizona community, Chandler utilizes reclaimed water as a resource. The Airport WRF design produces A+ quality effluent for many uses. Chandler’s reuse system supplies reclaimed water for lakes, golf courses, and landscape in targeted portions of the community. The Chandler Heights Recharge Project (wetlands) is a popular community resource, in addition to providing an option for replenishing the aquifer. Aquifer storage and recovery wells at the Tumbleweed and Ocotillo facilities are utilized to balance reclaimed water supply and demand throughout the year. Finally, reclaimed water is also provided to the Gila River Indian Community as part of a federally approved water rights settlement. In exchange for the reclaimed water, the Gila River Indian Community provides the City of Chandler with a potable water source from the Indian Community’s Central Arizona Project water portfolio.

Chandler has a zero tolerance policy for odors emanating from the Airport WRF. From the first stages of the design, the project team acknowledged the need to contain and minimize odors as much as possible. Odors are captured and treated in excess of regulatory requirements throughout the treatment process.

The Airport WRF has served as a keystone of Chandler’s system of wastewater treatment facilities. Chandler has significantly invested in infrastructure to allow for transfer of wastewater between treatment facilities. This strategy provides redundancy and allows the City to select the best loading scenario for its treatment facility on a daily basis. To optimize loading, Chandler elected to re-rate the Airport WRF to 12 MGD early in the construction process. This provided “breathing room” with respect to regulatory requirements, and allowed additional flows to be treated at the Airport WRF through construction. The project team accepted the challenge. All construction activities were carefully planned to maintain the capacity of the Airport WRF and the integrity of the treatment process.

Several site specific conditions increased the complexity of work at the Airport WRF. The facility operates as an end-of-the-line facility, meaning all wastewater coming to the plant must be treated. All effluent leaving the facility must meet Arizona’s A+ reclaimed water standard for reuse or recharge. In case of a plant upset, the Airport WRF can store approximately 24-hours of effluent within on-site “emergency” basins for re-treatment. The project team can be proud of their record – the “emergency” basins were never used for unplanned events caused by construction.

Aeration Basins

Secondary Clarifiers

City of Chandler, Wilson Engineers, McCarthy Building Company


Jon C. SCHLADWEILER

historian R E P O R T

It has been said that …”it takes a village to raise a child”. In times past (prior to the availability of earth moving machinery, etc.) projects calling for the moving earth, in turn, called for large numbers of people and draft animals to accomplish the excavations. Such was true for the construction of the early irrigation canals. The photo shown below shows how things were often done – early in the 1900’s.

The photo shows the excavation under way for a canal within the Salt River Project – somewhere in what is now the greater Phoenix metropolitan area. This photo was also used to make a postcard; in doing so, the following caption was utilized:

“Construction of the Salt River Canal system was labor intensive. Before the advent of steam powered and later gas and diesel powered excavating equipment, horse and manpower were used to excavate and maintain canals. At the turn of the twentieth century, workers excavate a segment of a Salt River Project canal. Photography courtesy of the National Archives.”

Photo courtesy of the Salt River Project; attention Ms. Catherine May.

CM @ Risk Contract O & M Arsenic Removal Design Build

Water • Wastewater • Haz-Mat • LandfillConsulting & Construction

928-778-5335 3111 Clearwater Drive, Suite A, Prescott, AZ 86305 928-778-5870

WATER TREATMENT GRADES 1 & 21. D 2. D 3. D 4. D 5. C

WATER TREATMENT GRADES 3 & 41. C 2. D 3. C 4. C 5. D

WATER DISTRIBUTION GRADES 1 & 21. B 2. A 3. B 4. C 5. A

WATER DISTRIBUTION GRADES 3 & 41. D 2. A 3. B 4. B 5. A

WASTEWATER COLLECTION GRADES 1 & 21. A 2. B 3. A 4. C 5. B

WASTEWATER COLLECTION GRADES 3 & 41. A 2. B 3. C 4. C 5. D

WASTEWATER TREATMENT GRADES 1 & 21. D 2. C 3. C 4. B 5. A

WASTEWATER TREATMENT GRADES 3 & 41. A 2. C 3. C 4. C 5. B

P I P E L I N E A N S W E R SSEE QUESTIONS ON PAGE 26


Floyd MARSHon behalf of Lockwood, Andrews and Newman and the City of Surprise, AZ

AZ WATER 2010 WATER REUSE PROJECT OF THE YEARSurprise Vadose Zone Well Recharge System

RECLAIMED WATER MANAGEMENT: FINDING A SOLUTIONWhen the City of Surprise developed a comprehensive Water Resources Master Plan in 2002, reuse of

reclaimed water was identified as a renewable resource that allowed the City to develop adequate and assured future water supplies. The City envisions that by build-out, a significant quantity of this reclaimed water supply will be managed by recharge to store and replenish Surprise’s groundwater supply. To implement this plan, City officials expanded the City’s wastewater treatment capacity at the Surprise South Water Reclamation Plant (SSWRP) from 7.2 million gallons per day (MGD) to 16.3 MGD. But, this also presented a significant water resource management challenge: How to get the increased volumes of reclaimed water produced into underground storage. To effectively manage this resource, the City elected to install vadose zone recharge wells in phases corresponding with expansion of the SSWRP.

VADOSE ZONE RECHARGE: THE SOLUTIONThe recharge wells are master planned to be designed and installed at two

different locations in the City service area. The first location, adjacent to the SSWRP, has an estimated recharge capacity of 10 MGD and will include approximately 32 vadose zone recharge wells at build out. The second location, with an estimated recharge capacity of 5 MGD, is planned to include approximately 21 recharge wells at build out. The first phase of the project consisted of 5 vadose zone recharge wells to be followed by two (2) future phases of 5 additional wells, and subsequent phases of 10 and 7 wells, respectively, for a total of 32 wells at the SSWRP site.

By coupling reclaimed water quality management with an advanced recharge approach, the City of Surprise is achieving dual objectives of implementing

reclaimed water management and using reclaimed water to sustain future groundwater water supplies. This solution provided an economical and cost effective solution that meets the community’s water management goals and secondary benefits to the public and natural environment.

RECLAIMED WATER QUALITY VS WELL PERFORMANCE: DEALING WITH TECHNICAL CHALLENGES

One major issue the design team addressed was maintaining the quality of water to be recharged through the vadose zone recharge wells. While vadose zone recharge wells have a much smaller footprint than basins and are more economical for this application than direct injection, they cannot be readily rehabilitated and therefore the effective lifespan is reduced before replacement wells are necessary. Consequently, source water being recharged through the vadose zone recharge wells has to be highly filtered to remove particulates such as total suspended solids (TSS) and maintained in a high quality by lowering nutrient content (NO3-N) including disinfection to prevent biological clogging. In addition to reducing recharge rates, these organic materials also affect the effective life of a recharge well.

“The biggest challenge in most cases is microbiology – biological plugging caused by total organic carbons,” said Gary Small, HSI President and recharge manager for the project team. “One of the things that we found with experience designing and operating recharge wells was that typical reclaimed water has a high load of nutrients and this allows the bacteria already in the soil to flourish. So, disinfection and filtration at the surface helps to ensure that the water injected into these wells is of a very high quality.”

Various filtering systems were researched and evaluated and one manufacturer was performance tested using the reclaimed source water from the SPA1 SSWRP. However, due to high capital and long-term operational costs of purchasing and maintaining an effective filter system and in the absence of a performance guarantee for removal efficiency and efficient back flush intervals in the vendor contract, the City elected not to proceed with any of the filtration systems considered.

As an alternative to additional filtration, and subsequent to the final design, the design team recommended and the City elected to use a floating geomembrane cover to preserve reclaimed water quality and extend performance and life of the recharge wells. A design decision was made to install such a cover on the smaller 5 million gallon (MG) storage reservoir connected to the recharge booster pump facility.

The reservoir cover installed for this application is made of a high density polyethylene (HDPE) 40 mil geomembrane fabric that floats on the water surface also supported by an existing baffle system in the reservoir. It includes air vents and a submersible sump pump system to remove water off the cover surface. The reservoir cover has a surface area of slightly less than 200,000 square feet.


PROJECT CHALLENGES SOLVED WITH EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONSWith recharge system design and construction involving ongoing expansion of the SSWRP happening

simultaneously, one of the critical project management challenges for the project team was to coordinate design activities and anticipate construction of both components without interrupting the plant operations, while also maintaining project milestones. The scale and complexity of the project presented a number of challenges. “The diverse nature and technological complexity of this project presented interesting design integration and implementation challenges”, noted Floyd Marsh, the LAN Project Manager. “Although keeping the initial schedule for design was a challenge, focus of the complete project team was key to project success as we wrapped up bidding and began the recharge construction phase.”

To tackle these issues seamlessly, the City and the design team worked collaboratively on each aspect of the project. Biweekly project team meetings and regular site visits were scheduled to facilitate project understanding and evaluate impacts of existing infrastructure on well system design. In addition, the project team also kept the City staff informed and involved on a real time basis, including the managers and operators, on the design, technological aspects, construction, and testing and operating procedures of the vadose recharge technology. The contractor constructing the ongoing SSWRP expansion, later to become the CMAR partner, became a part of these design meetings. This tight-knit, fully integrated team was a hallmark of the project’s success.

As noted above, an additional design issue that the team addressed was achieving consistent quality of the source water that was to be recharged through the vadose wells.

A unique feature of this recharge project is the alternative application of a reservoir cover to preserve quality of the reclaimed water supply. As an alternative to additional filtration, a design decision was made to install such a cover during the initial phase of recharge well installation on the smaller 5 million gallon (MG) storage reservoir. This smaller storage reservoir was in turn operationally isolated from an existing 10 MG reservoir using a large (48 inch) TideFlex flexible valve to avoid mixing of water quality between the two existing storage reservoirs.

PROJECT STATUS: PHASE 1 IMPLEMENTATIONConstruction of the first phase of the project, which cost approximately $4.22 million,

began in September 2008 and was completed in May 2009. Operational startup and well performance testing was completed in May 2009 following receipt of all project permits. The initial phase is currently fully operational and accruing the City future storage credits toward a renewable water supply. Phases two, three and four, estimated to cost an additional $9 million, will be completed in the next two to three fiscal years with the fourth phase to follow, depending upon future budget availability. Upon completion of the next three phases at the SSWRP location, additional vadose zone recharge wells will be designed and installed at the second location, the Surprise Recreation Center Campus site near the City’s existing municipal center. This site is master planned for 21 recharge wells totalling nearly 55 wells for the entire project.

Using CMAR as the alternative delivery method at the 30 % design stage, the initial phase of the project was finished within available budget, by a contractor who was onsite for expansion of Phases 4 and 5 of the Water Reclamation Plant. Overall the project was completed on the owner’s schedule and with reduced capital and long term operating savings. The initial project scope called for installation of 15 wells, but the budget required the phase to be reduced to 5 wells. This scope will be made up when funding is restored in subsequent capital budgets after the current economic downturn.

The design-construction services team of Lockwood, Andrews and Newnam (LAN), HydroSystems Inc (HSI), and DLTV System Engineering (DLTVSE) assisted by Archer Western Contractors as the CMAR contractor supported the City through project planning, design, permitting and construction.

City of Surprise, LAN, Archer Western Contractors


Paul HENDRICKS

success A N D F U N

I recently heard a presentation from a speaker named Paul Tsika about going beyond our Self Imposed Limitations and our previously Self Destructive Behaviors. My hope is that this issue will help each one of us break through the barriers of our self destructive tendencies. I believe that each of us can do this if we want to change the way we think and act in our daily lives.

This issue will be about the CHOICES that we make each day and how they equal the CONSEQUENCES in our lives. If you pay more attention to your choices, you will see dynamic results in your consequences.

These are formulas that you can live by, for we reap what we sow:• CHOICES = CONSEQUENCES• Eating Right, Getting Enough Sleep, Exercising and Staying Hydrated = Feeling Great• Eating Junk Food, Being a Dehydrated Coach Potato = Feeling Terrible• Love, Acceptance and Forgiveness = Building Relationships• Ignoring People, Being Moody, Spiteful, and Resentful of Others = Being Isolated and Lonely• Working Hard, Saving Your Money, Delayed Gratification, Living Below your Means = Wealth• Spending Money Needlessly, Being Idle, Instant Gratification = Poverty• Face the Issues, Deal with Your Emotions, Getting Mentored in Life = Finding Solutions

• Avoiding Issues, Suffering in Silence = Problems Continue to Grow• Read, Study, Imagine, Dream, Plan and Connect with Ideas = Winning in Life• Lounging Around, Ignoring Responsibilities, Fantasize, Resenting Others

= Loosing in LifeWhy does life seem so unfair? It is really not unfair at all; it has to do with the

choices that we make and the consequences of our choices.We need to ask ourselves the following:• What kind of things are you reading?• What kind of things are you watching?• What kind of things are you involved in?• What kind of relationships are you involved with?• What kind of friendships do you have?• What kind of people do you let into your life?Sometimes life does not seem to be fun or fair. Sometimes you need to simply

hang on until things turn around. Remember that Choices = Consequences. We all have setbacks and challenges in our life that we need to face openly. Ask yourself what is keeping you from making right choices?

WHAT CAN WE DO?We need to give up some of our false beliefs. We need to give up some of those

things, and burn the bridge that leads us back to them. The hardest lesson on life to learn is; Which Bridge to Cross and Which to Burn.

We must move past the self destructive behaviors that have held us back from our own personal SUCCESS and FUN. We must burn the bridge that lead back to the old negative behaviors and habits

Documents

C O N T E N T S · 2018. 4. 2. · Summer 2010 AZ Water Association 1 C O N T E N T S features 4 Tres Rios Flow Regulating and Overbank Wetlands 10 Achieving Steady State Flow –